THE  LIBRARY 
AND  ITS  FACILITIES 

By  G.  W.  Lee 


Reprinted  from 
STONE  & WEBSTER 
Public  Service  Journal 
July,  1911 


5 -A 


0 • ' 
LWU 


THE  LIBRARY  AND  ITS  FACULTIES 

BY  G.  W.  LEE 

The  Library  Department  aims  to  put  the  members  of  the 
Stone  & Webster  organization,  more  especially  the  three  hun- 
dred or  more  of  the  Boston  office,  in  touch  with  needed  infor- 
mation. Its  upwards  of  4,000  books,  periodicals  and  other 
pamphlets  are  used  at  the  rate  of  about  one  every  ten  minutes, 
or  fifty  a day,  or  15,000  a year.  Why?  Because  people  doing 
something  new  to  themselves  want  to  know  how  others  have 
done  the  same  or  similar  thing,  and  thus  to  profit  by  their 
example. 

The  Library  was  described  in  1907  in  a pamphlet  entitled 
“The  Library  and  the  Business  Man.”  Though  much  of  what 
was  said  then  holds  true  to-day,  there  are  a few  radical  dif- 
ferences. The  Filing  Department  and  the  Library  were  then 
one,  but  are  now  separate,  the  Library  containing  the  printed 
matter,  as  it  were,  the  Filing  Department  largely  the  type- 
written, the  archives  of  the  organization. 

Questions  and  Resources  for  Answering  Them 

We  endeavor  to  record  most  of  the  questions  that  come  to 
the  Library,  noting,  also,  the  literature  consulted.  A glance  at 
the  cards  containing  these  records  shows  the  wide  range  of 
appeals  that  are  made  to  this  department.  The  following,  mostly 
recent,  are  selected  as  characteristic  and  as  suggesting  not  only 
its  facilities  but  the  limitations  which  it  is  aiming  to  overcome : 

(1)  Tables  giving  data  for  figuring  the  results  of  cooling 
towers.  According  to  the  record,  fifteen  minutes  required  to 
find  references  in  Kent’s  Handbook,  Ganot’s  Physics,  and  Gueth 
on  Cooling  Towers. 

(2)  Information  on  two  different  kinds  of  pavements. 
Three  hours  and  fifteen  minutes  required  by  two  persons,  con- 
sulting back  numbers  of  a half  dozen  or  more  trade  journals, 
the  Engineering  Index,  Technical  Press  Index,  and  duplicate 
sets  of  indexes.  The  questioner  needed,  also,  to  go  to  outsiders 
for  testimonials  as  to  these  pavements. 


42 


STONE  & WEBSTER 


(3)  Name  and  address  of  the  president  of  an  engineering 
company  in  New  York.  Two  minutes  to  find  it  in  the  Directory 
of  Directors.  Sources  of  information  on  addresses  are  limitless. 
Experience  counts  for  much  in  knowing  where  to  look. 

(4)  Which  is  preferable,  <(issue  and  placement”  of  bonds 
or  (( issue  and  placing”?  Answered  offhand,  as  a matter  of 
judgment,  that  “placement”  should  be  used  with  “issue,”  as  the 
same  form  of  construction  and  pleasing  to  the  ear,  even  though 
“placing”  might  be  grammatical.  (Better  still  to  say  “issuing” 
and  “placing,”  as  “placement”  is  rarely  used  in  this  country.) 
In  this  connection  it  should  be  added  that  questions  are  put  to 
the  Library  almost  daily  with  regard  to  correct  English,  how  to 
address  officials,  and  the  like. 

(5)  Information  on  Guatemala,  map,  etc.  An  hour,  look- 
ing through  Daily  Consular  and  Trade  Reports,  but  finding  ref- 
erences in  Commercial  America,  The  Americana,  Latin  America, 
and  the  Rand-McNally  Atlas. 

(6)  Calculation  of  replacement  funds,  curves  particularly. 
Forty-five  minutes  to  get  ample  references.  Current  literature 
reference  cards  particularly  useful.  British  publications  also 
threw  light. 

(7)  Write-up  of  L Street  station  of  Boston  Edison  Com- 
pany. References  obtained  by  two  persons,  twenty  minutes  each, 
by  consulting  our  Current  Literature  References,  also  the  Engi- 
neering Index,  by  which  they  were  referred  to  six  different  pub- 
lications, mostly  trade  journals.  Same  request  coming  up  three 
months  later  was  filled  in  twelve  minutes  by  looking  up  record 
of  what  had  required  forty  minutes  the  previous  time. 

(8)  Wind  velocity  in  St.  Louis  prior  to  igo8.  Not  avail- 
able in  publications  at  hand,  but  at  Weather  Bureau,  in  the 
Post  Office  Building,  where  the  information  was  in  back  num- 
bers of  the  Monthly  Weather  Review. 

(9)  Samples  of  periodicals  that  are  intended  for  municipal 
officials.  Telephoned  Public  Library,  asking  to  have  samples 
ready,  and  sent  boy  to  get  them,  with  the  result  that  eight  were 
brought  to  the  office. 

(10)  Certain  features  of  references  on  high  pressure  na- 
tural gas.  Turned  over  to  Nelson’s  Loose-Leaf  Encyclopedia 
headquarters,  and  in  the  course  of  a few  weeks  references,  with 
bibliography,  received  in  twelve  typewritten  sheets;  with  also 


PUBLIC  SERVICE  JOURNAL 


43 


three  large  clippings.  These  sheets,  which  were  of  standard 
shape  and  punched  to  fit,  we  have  now  inserted  in  the  Encyclo- 
pedia as  addenda  on  Natural  Gas. 

(11)  Use  of  railroad  men  during  off  hours  when  they  are 
regularly  employed  during  rush  hours.  Wanted  by  a man  in 
one  of  our  companies.  Inquiries  of  various  libraries,  govern- 
ment departments,  specialists,  etc.,  substantially  in  vain.  Some 
one  could  probably  answer  this  satisfactorily.  A problem  to 
find  him. 

(12)  Method  of  boring  for  highway  under  railroad  track. 
Two  hours  spent  and  nothing  found.  Questioner  believed  that 
this  sort  of  information  is  not  given  out  by  the  railroads  them- 
selves. 

Incidentally,  in  commenting  upon  the  above  questions  various 
resources  have  been  mentioned.  Books  and  periodicals  dealing 
with  engineering  and  economics,  general  reference  works  and 
annual  reports,  are  obvious  necessities.  Of  great  use,  however, 
and  a painstaking  work,  is  the  card  list  of  periodical  articles, 
supplementing  to  date  the  pamphlets  that  we  issued  for  general 
distribution,  1907  and  1908,  entitled  “Current  Literature  Ref- 
erences/’ An  author  and  subject  card  index  and  a shelf  list 
refer  to  our  books.  We  have  the  Engineering  Index,  annual 
and  monthly  (the  latter  clipped  and  pasted  on  convenient  sheets), 
also  other  special  indexes.  We  obtain  duplicate  copies  of  indexes 
to  the  most  used  trade  journals,  and  by  having  these  in  a special 
collection  obviate  taking  the  heavy  bound  volumes  so  frequently 
from  the  shelves.  Furthermore,  the  many  specialists  of  the 
office  make  a reference  resource  more  important  than  all  else. 
In  fact,  with  business  houses  generally  is  it  not  the  individual, 
with  his  experience,  that  is  looked  to  almost  entirely?  In  con- 
sequence, it  behooves  the  Library  to  know  who’s  who  in  the 
office  and  what  his  specialty  is. 

Other  Features  of  the  Service 

Compiled  from  the  card  references  are  semi-weekly  special 
sheets,  dated  for  Tuesdays  and  Fridays.  They  are  sent  to  such 
members  of  the  office  as  request  them  and  to  some  outside.  The 
Tuesday  sheets  cover  Civil,  Electrical  and  Mechanical  Engineer- 
ing, the  Friday  sheets  Electric  Railways  and  Miscellany.  In 
addition  many  special  notices  are  sent,  calling  to  the  attention 
of  this  person  or  that  articles,  new  books,  etc.,  that  are  thought 


44 


STONE  & WEBSTER 


of  most  likely  interest  to  him.  Not  long  ago  a form  was  sent 
out,  asking  persons  to  note  thereon  topics  with  which  they  wished 
to  be  kept  in  touch,  topics  upon  which  they  could  be  referred  to 
as  specialists,  literature  they  were  willing  to  lend  when  library 
copies  were  not  available,  societies  to  which  they  belonged,  etc. 
At  the  time  of  writing  this  paper  the  returns  are  being  collated 
for  betterment  of  the  library  service.  On  the  third  Thursday  of 
each  month,  at  5 o’clock,  there  is  an  auction  to  dispose  of  the 
surplus  and  superseded  material.  By  this  means  not  only  is  a 
certain  revenue  realized,  but  much  is  saved  from  the  waste- 
basket, going  instead  to  those  who  are  glad  to  get  it.  The 
auction  lists  are  sent  about  a week  in  advance  to  those  request- 
ing them.  The  Boston  Public  Library  is  visited  with  much 
frequency  and  monthly  lists  made  of  new  literature  brought 
thence  to  the  office,  or  available  to  be  brought  if  wanted.  Acces- 
sions of  books  and  pamphlets  are  listed  in  the  Public  Service 
Journal  each  month,  and  in  its  Library  Notes  attention  is  called 
to  what  is  deemed  of  particular  interest.  The  lending  of  litera- 
ture is  informal,  charge-out  cards  being  filled  in  with  the  number 
(in  case  of  periodicals,  with  initials),  the  name  of  the  borrower, 
and  date  when  borrowed.  Periodicals  are  due  back  in  three 
days,  no  special  time  being  assigned  for  books. 

Classification  System 

The  essentials  of  the  classification  are  largely  to  be  found 
in  “The  Library  and  the  Business  Man,”  referred  to  before,  of 
which  copies  may  be  had  for  the  asking.  Reports,  maps  and 
other  publications  permitting  of  geographical  classification  re- 
ceive a number  that  indicates  state,  district,  city,  etc.,  with  a 
supplemental  subject  classification  that  follows  a decimal  point. 
Engineering,  economic  and  other  publications,  not  geographical, 
have  class  numbers  starting  with  a decimal  point.  Thus  1461.03 
is  assigned  to  the  Revised  Ordinances  of  Boston,  but  .03.M13 
to  Macomber  on  The  Fixed  Law  of  Patents;  the  M13  being  a 
regular  library  abbreviation  for  the  author,  Macomber,  accord- 
ing to  the  well  known  Cutter  System.  Periodicals  are  filed  by 
their  initials  as  far  as  practicable.  Periodical  references,  how- 
ever, are  classified  by  a system  based  upon  the  divisions  of  the 
Engineering  Index  for  the  first  two  significant  figures,  next 
coming  a letter,  which  in  the  latest  revision  of  the  filing  schedule 
is  mnemonic  as  far  as  practicable.  Thus,  if  12  is  Construction, 


PUBLIC  SERVICE  JOURNAL 


45 


12b  refers  to  Buildings,  12s  to  Steel,  12w  to  Wood,  etc.  This 
is  being  worked  out  for  a loose-leaf  handbook,  of  which  a sample 
is  given  below  (A).  Letters  are  frequently  received  asking 
about  classification,  and  the  general  word  of  advice  would  be 
not  to  crystalize  a system  too  soon.  It  is  erring  on  the  right 
side  to  use  already  adopted  systems.  The  Dewey  System  is  good 
for  libraries  not  too  special,  but  one  can  hardly  go  far  astray 
if  he  sticks  to  a dictionary  system,  arranging  his  topics  in  alpha- 
betical order  until  sufficiently  sure  of  the  general  scope  of 
knowledge  he  is  to  deal  with  to  justify  a class  system.  Then 
to  arrive  at  a class  system  in  satisfactory  detail  is  likely  to  be  a 
long  game  of  solitaire,  with  trying  experiences. 

Labor  Saving  Devices  and  New  Methods  Under  Way 

Various  blank  forms  which  save  much  time  are  used.  One 
of  these  (Figure  1)  is  offered  by  way  of  illustration.  It  will 
be  seen  to  provide  for  the  author  and  title  of  a book,  the  Boston 
Public  Library  shelf  number,  list  price,  edition,  date,  etc. 
Spaces  are  allowed  to  show  whether  the  book  has  been  available 
or  not,  and  to  whom  it  has  been  referred ; while  by  underscoring 
one  can  indicate  whether  it  has  charts,  diagrams,  illustrations, 
maps,  plates,  plans,  portraits,  or  tables.  Another  blank  form 
(Figure  2)  is  used  for  requesting  departments  or  individuals 
to  express  their  opinion  as  to  whether  a book,  pamphlet,  etc., 
(or  notice  thereof),  submitted,  should  be  added  to  the  files. 
Other  forms  are  illustrated  in  “Current  Literature  References, 
1908,”  pp  14-16. 


Fig.  1 (reduced  from  3x5) 


Author 

BPL  No. 

Title 

Elsewh’e 

List 

Net 

Ed 

Date 

Place 

Publisher 

Size  pp 

ch  di  il  mp 

pin  pit  por  ta 

Out,  not  on  shf,  etc. 

Seen 

Referred  to 

Taken 

99 

99 

No.  on  list 

Due 

Date  of  BPL  list 

Noted? 

Have  we  it? 

Library  suggestions 

(give  below). 

Well  to  note 

Disposal  & remarks 

( Over) 

46 


STONE  & WEBSTER 


The  mimeograph  is  used  for  most  of  the  circulars  sent  out 
from  the  Library,  and  the  multigraph  for  various  blank  forms. 

Loose-Leaf  Handbook 

This  is  planned  as  a special  library  catalogue.  A few  sheets 
have  been  issued  in  a preliminary  edition,  of  which  two  samples 
are  offered,  (A)  Sources  on  Building,  and  (B)  Engineering 
Specialists.  Referring  to  (A),  suppose,  by  way  of  illustration, 
we  desire  a book  on  fireproof  construction.  Looking  through 
the  subjects  in  the  slanting  columns  we  find  “Fireproofing”  to  be 
No.  4 of  the  second  column,  which  begins  with  the  letter  “F,” 
and  down  vertically  we  find  three  F’s,  one  referring  across  to 
Kidder,  one  to  Merriman,  one  to  Trautwine — three  books  that 
cover  fireproof  construction  to  at  least  a certain  extent.  Looking 
for  “Paint”  we  find  the  topic  is  No.  3 of  those  grouped  (for 
want  of  space)  at  the  end  of  the  second  slanting  column;  and 
down  the  vertical  column  of  3s  we  find  that  books  by 
Gillette,  Ketchum,  Kidder,  and  Merriman,  deal  with  this  sub- 
ject. (B),  the  tabulation  of  Engineering  Specialists,  is  consulted 
in  like  manner. 


Fig.  2 (reduced  from  3x5) 


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3 


PUBLIC  SERVICE  JOURNAL 


47 


(A)  BUILDING 

Library  of  Stone  & Webster — Loose-leaf  Handbook 

Serial  No.  3 Class  No.  H12 

Abbreviated  list  of  sources  of  information.  Corrected  to  June  16,  1911 


Subjects  Subjects 

Ref'd  to  by  initial  letters  in  columns 


Arches,  roofs,  etc. 

Concrete  ( t ) & masonry 
Excavations  & foundations 
Heating 
Materials 

Piping  & Plumbing 
Steel  work 
Ventilating 
Woodwork  & timber 


Beams,  columns  & structure  in  gen. 
Contracts 
Estimates  & costs 
Fireproofing 
Specifications 
Tables,  curves,  etc. 

1 math’l;  2 formulae;  3 paint 
4 stresses,  strains:  S legal 


********  * Arthur,  W ? E ST 

ACE  M S W Berg,  L de  C B 12  4 

* * * * ? * * Gillette,  HP E T 3 

Johnson,  JB C S 

A S — , Bryan  et  al B S 1 

A S Ketchum,  MS B E S 3 

ACEHMPSVW  Kidder,  FE BCEFST  234 

ACE  ?MPS  ?W  Merriman,  M(Ed)  B FST  234 


Bldg  estimator.  Ed  3 
Safe  bldg.  I ed  4,  ’95 ; 

II,  ed  1,  ’92 
Hdbk  of  cost  data. 
Ed  2 

Eg  contracts  & 
spec’ns.  Ed  3 
Modern  framed  struc- 
tures. Ed  8 
Steel  mill  bldgs  & 
calc  of  stresses 
Arch’ts  & bldrs  pock- 
et bk.  Ed  15 
Am  civil  egrs  pocket 
bk. 


A S 

ACE 

ACE  M?  S 


— & Jacoby B 14  Roofs  & bridg.  I,  ed; 

II,  ed;  III, 

Patton,  WM 2 4 Foundations.  Ed  2 

Sayward,  WH 5 Bldg  law  of  Boston 

W Trautwine,  [ C....  B EFST  2 Civ  egrs  pocket  bk. 

Ed  19 

Tucker,  JI C S 5 Contracts  in  eg.  Ed  1 

Waddell,  JAL  etal  C S Specifications  & con- 

tracts 

Wait,  JC C S 5Eg&  arch’l  jurispru- 

dence 

5 Law  of  op’ns  prel. 

ditto to  constrn.  Ed  1 


♦Entries  marked  with  an  asterisk  ( * ) indicate  that  the  topic  is  covered 
from  a special  standpoint,  as  “estimates  & costs.” 

(t)  Addenda  on  (c)  Concrete  & (rc)  Reinforced  Concrete:  Brown, 
CC  (hdbk  for  cem  users,  ed  3)  ; Buel,  AW  & Hill  (rc,  ed  2)  : Brown, 
HP  & Hill  (methods  & costs)  ; Marsh,  CF  (rc,  ed  1)  ; Moisseiff,  LS 
(rc  literature,  etc)  ; Morsch,  E (c-steel)  ; Reid,  HA  (c  & rc)  ; Taylor, 
FW  & Thompson  (c  & rc,  ed  2)  ; Turneaure,  FE  & Maurer  (rc)  ; Univ 
111  (many  tests  by  ANTalbot)  ; Univ  of  Wis  (tests). 

N.  B.  Year  given  only  when  before  1900. 


48 


PUBLIC  SERVICE  JOURNAL 


(B)  ENGINEERING  SPECIALISTS 
Library  of  Stone  & Webster — Loose-leaf  Handbook 

Serial  No.  1 Class  No.  H666 


Prospectus  of  List 


Corrected  to  June  16,  1911 


Subjects 

Construction 

Efficiency 

Fuel 

Gas 

Hydroelectrics 

Lighting 

Operation  (station) 
Piping 
Railway  eg 
Steam 

Underground 


Subjects 

Civil  eg 

Design  of  Station 
Electrical  eg 
Gas  engines 
Hydraulics 
Mech’l  eg 

Rates,  costs,  calculations 
Switchboards  & substations 
1 draughting;  2 electroly- 
sis: 3 lightning  protection 
4 surveying 
(These  numbers  can  of 
course  be  extended  in- 
definitely) 


Specialists 

P Mr 

A 

LO 

B 

RS 

C 

G 

N.B.  This  table 

c 

S 

D 

D 

if  carried  to  com- 

EF 

0 s 

E 

M 

pletion  would  con- 

C 

“ 

F 

tain  upwards  of 

G 

“ 

G 

fifty  names.  It  is 

R U “ 

H 

E 

S 

what  the  Library 

s 

I 

E 

M 

needs  for  co-ordi- 

L  R 

7 

E 

1 

nating  men  with 

R 

K 

E 

books  in  its  ser- 

C 

R 

L 

C 

M 2 

vice  as  clearing 

R 

M 

E 

R 

house  of  informa- 

H 

N 

E 

H 3 

tion. 

“ 

0 

C 

H 4 

Outside  Resources  and  Affiliations 

The  Public  Library  is  perhaps  our  greatest  outside  source 
of  assistance.  We  are  favored  with  three  special  cards,  entitling 
us  to  borrow  eighteen  books,  most  of  which  can  be  kept  a month. 
Also,  we  use  the  Library  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Civil  Engi- 
neers; we  have  not  infrequent  occasion  to  visit  the  Library  of 
the  Weather  Bureau;  we  write  to  Nelson’s  Loose-Leaf  Ency- 
clopedia for  information,  to  which  we  are  entitled  as  purchasers 
of  their  twelve  volumes;  we  receive  bibliographical  publications 
through  the  bulletin  of  the  Special  Libraries  Association;  and 
are  helping  to  establish  a clearing  house  of  information  among 
upwards  of  sixty  libraries,  business  houses  and  individuals  of 
the  city  and  vicinity. 


/ 


/j  ■' 


/:ry 


